Kalanchoe plant named ‘Yazmin’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Yazmin’, characterized by its upright and uniform plant habit; large white-colored double flowers with about 45 petals per flower; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Yazmin’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Yazmin’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new freely-flowering Kalanchoe cultivars withlarge flowers, numerous petals per flower, attractive flower colorationand excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Kalanchoe originated from a cross-pollination made on Nov. 24,2004 in Hinnerup, Denmark, of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar KJ2003 0818, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.11/080,401, as the female, or seed, parent with the Kalanchoeblossfeldiana cultivar Simone 2000, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.12,319, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoe was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlledenvironment in Hinnerup, Denmark in June, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by terminal cuttings atHinnerup, Denmark since July, 2005, has shown that the unique featuresof this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Yazmin has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Yazmin’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Yazmin’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and uniform plant habit.    -   2. Large white-colored double flowers with about 45 petals per        flower.    -   3. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the cultivar KJ 2003 0818. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differfrom plants of the cultivar KJ 2003 0818 in leaf and flower color asplants of the cultivar KJ 2003 0818 have darker green-colored leaves andlight pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the maleparent, the cultivar Simone 2000. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differfrom plants of the cultivar Simone 2000 in flower shape and size andshape as plants of the cultivar Simone 2000 have single flowers that aresmaller in size than flowers of plants of the new Kalanchoe.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can also be compared to plants of theKalanchoe cultivar KJ 2003 0852, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.17,528. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Kalanchoe differfrom plants of the cultivar KJ 2003 0852 in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were not as vigorous as plants of        the cultivar KJ 2003 0852.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had ovate-shaped leaves whereas        plants of the cultivar KJ 2003 0852 had elliptic-shaped leaves.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger inflorescences with        more flowers per inflorescence than plants of the cultivar KJ        2003 0852.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger flowers with more        petals per flower than plants of the cultivar KJ 2003 0852.    -   5. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flowered about six days earlier        than plants of the cultivar KJ 2003 0852.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Kalanchoe. The photographs were taken under diffuse naturallight conditions on a sunny day at approximately noon in Hinnerup,Denmark.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering potted plant of ‘Yazmin’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a top perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Yazmin’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used in thephotographs and for the following description were grown in Hinnerup,Denmark, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse forabout 16 weeks with day temperatures about 19° C., night temperaturesabout 21° C. and light levels ranging from 10 to 50 kilolux. Plants usedin the description and photographs were not pinched. Unless otherwisespecified, the leaf description represents leaves from a vegetativeplant.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Yazmin.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar KJ            2003 0818, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser.            No. 11/080,401.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar            Simone 2000, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,319.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at 19° C. to            21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at 19° C.            to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 24 days            at 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Upright and uniform plant habit with numerous compound            cymes; freely flowering. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, about five lateral            branches develop on non-pinched plants. Pinching (removal of            terminal apex) is not required but will enhance lateral            branch development.        -   Plant height at flowering.—About 25 cm.        -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 20 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 13 cm. Diameter:            About 4 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Strength: Strong. Color 146B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Size:            Leaf size is reduced after floral induction. Vegetative            plants: Length: About 9 cm. Width: About 4 cm to 7 cm.            Reproductive plants: Length: About 5 cm to 9 cm. Width:            About 4 cm to 7 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Rounded. Base:            Obtuse. Margin: Crenate. Aspect: Concave and twisting.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            leathery; succulent. Color: Developing and fully expanded            foliage, upper surface: 146A; venation, close to 146A.            Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 146B;            venation, close to 146B. Petiole: Length: About 1.5 cm.            Diameter: About 7 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: 146B. Color, lower surface: 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Double flowers arranged in compound            dichasial cymes that arise from leaf axils. Upright            flowering stems. Freely flowering, about one to three            inflorescences per lateral branch each inflorescence with            about 10 to 20 flowers. Flowers persistent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants planted in an outdoor            nursery will flower from April to October in The            Netherlands. Flower initiation and development can be            induced under short day/long night conditions in the            greenhouse year-round.        -   Time to flower.—From the start of the short day/long night            conditions, plants flower about 72 days later. Time to            flower is primarily dependent upon temperature and light            intensity.        -   Flower opening.—First flower open is the terminal flower at            the main axis and is followed by the opening of the terminal            flowers of the side branches of the inflorescence. About 1.5            weeks after the first flower has opened, 25% of the            remaining flowers are open.        -   Post-production longevity.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe            maintain good leaf and flower substance for about six weeks            under interior environmental conditions.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 13 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.3 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Shape: Oblong. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width,            mid-section: About 9 mm. Color: 144D.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Typically about 35 to 45 per flower.            Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Shape: Ovate.            Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 155D. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 155C. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 155D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity: About four per flower. Length: About 1 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous, smooth. Color: When opening and fully opened,            upper surface: 146B. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: 146C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 mm to 6 mm. Diameter: About 1.2            mm to 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Erect to about 90°            from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Anther size: About 1 mm by            1 mm. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther color: 19A. Pollen            color: 20A. Pistils: Number of pistils per flower: About            four. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Style length: About 2 mm.            Style color: 145A. Stigma color: 145A. Stigma shape: Round.            Ovary color: 144A.        -   Seeds.—Number of seeds per ovary: About 50 to 60. Size: Less            than 1 mm by less than 1 mm. Color, immature: 145C. Color,            mature: 177A.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known pathogens and pests    common to Kalanchoe has not been observed on plants of the new    Kalanchoe grown under commercial greenhouse conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 30° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Yazmin’, asillustrated and described.